RNC Chair: Cannabis Policy Should Be States’ Decision

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel said in Gray Washington News Bureau interview yesterday that the organization does not have an official stance on medical cannabis policy and that the issue should be left for states to decide.

The statement was prompted by reporter Alana Austin’s question about whether there was “a place in the GOP for folks who support medical marijuana.”

“I don’t address policy issues like medical marijuana, that’s left up to the states and there’s going to be variances between states. But that’s not something that the RNC puts forward as policy, that’s a legislative issue. We’re actually a body that helps elect Republicans and turn out the vote.” — RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, via Gray Washington News Bureau

Despite the GOP’s reluctance to embrace cannabis reforms, legalization continues to enjoy overwhelming support among American voters. A recent Gallup poll found that 70 percent of Americans think it’s “morally acceptable” to use cannabis; an October 2019 poll, meanwhile, found that two-thirds of Americans support federally legalizing the plant. Those polls included majority support among Republican voters as well as Independents and, of course, Democrats.

President Trump, meanwhile, is reportedly concerned that cannabis initiatives on the November ballot are likely to drive up Democrats’ voting numbers, which is likely to further slim his reelection odds.

The Republican party did not create a new platform this year and intends to use the same official platform as 2016.